On the large-time asymptotics of the defocusing mKdV equation with step-like initial data

Abstract

We study the Cauchy problem for the defocusing modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation with step-like initial data approaching nonzero constants $c_l$ and $c_r$ as $x \to -\infty$ and $x\to+\infty$, respectively. Assuming $c_l>c_r>0$, the solution exhibits a rarefaction wave structure. We first develop the inverse scattering transform for the solution satisfying these step-like boundary conditions. Using the associated scattering data, we prove that there exists a unique global solution of the Cauchy problem and characterize it in terms of a Riemann-Hilbert (RH) problem. By applying the nonlinear steepest descent method to this RH problem, we rigorously obtain large-time asymptotics of rarefaction wave solution in three distinct space-time regions, each characterized by a different leading order behavior. They are: (I) a left-field region where the solution approaches the left background constant, modulo a small oscillatory correction, (II) a central region where the solution exhibits a slowly varying profile that transitions between the two constants, and (III) a right-field region where the solution tends to the right background constant, up to an algebraically small correction. Rigorous derivations of the leading terms, sub-leading terms as well as the error bounds are presented.